Fruit-drier



(No Model.) 2 Sheets--Sheet 1.

A; M. G HAPPELL.

FRUIT DRIER,

No. 511,504. Patentd Dec. 26, 1893.

(No Model.)

I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. A. M. OHAPPELL.

, FRUIT DRIER. No. 511,504. Patented Dec. 26, 1893.

NITED" ST TES PATENT QFFICE,

ABNER in. CHAPPELL, or DELL, vIRGINIA.

. FRUIT-DRIER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 511,504, dated December 26, 1893.

Application filed August 20, 1892. Serial No. 443,645. (No model.) 7

To all whom, it may concern: v

Be it known that I, ABNER M1 OHAPPELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dell,

'in the county of Grayson and State of Virobject of the same being to provide a simple drier, provided with amaximum capacity-for the fruit, and with this object in view the invention consists in a certain novel construetion, arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter fully described in connection with the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawings:-Figure 1 is a perspective view of a drier embodying myimprovements. Fig. 2 is a vertical central transverse sec: tional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical central longitudinal sectional view thereof. Fig. 4 is a detail view of one of the trays.

A represents the frame of the improved drier, comprising the uprights, B B, the horizontal connecting bars, 0 O, and the longitudinal timbers, D D. The connecting bars, 0, are mortised at their extremities into the inner sides of the longitudinal timbers, the latter being secured to the inner sides of the uprights. Metallic plates are secured to the upper and lower edges of the retangular frames, formed by the timbers D and connecting bars, 0, thus forming steam cham;

bers, E E, and the.b0iler,E", which is at the bottom of Y the frame and is adapted to be placed over a fire from which to derive heat. The longitudinal timbers are extended beyond the connectingbars and secured to the uprights of the frame, and the latter is provided.

with horizontal braces, F F and I-I, which latter braces are grooved at their inner edges to form tray guides as well as auxiliary sup ports for the steam chambers.

The steam chambers are provided around their upper edges with vertical rims or flanges, G G, to form shallow top trays to hold the fruit which is placed upon the metallic plates covering said chambers, and the sliding bottom trays, H H, having slatted bottoms, h,

v and retaining rims, h, are fitted in the brace guides, I I, arranged beneath the steam-chambers at ppposite end edges thereof.

The boiler is provided at K, with a water supply orinletopening, and steam connecting pipes connect one end of the boiler with the corresponding end of the steam chamber, E, said pipes being'illustrated at L L, and similar pipes,L' L, connect the opposite end of thechamberE' to the corresponding end of the chamber E. Thus, it will be seen that the steam. which is generated in the boiler ascends the pipes, L, and enters the lower steam chamber; it then traverses the entirelength of said 'st-eamchamber and after passing through the pi pes,L', reaches the upper steamchamber; the steam then traversestheentire length of said upper chamber and finally escapes through an outlet, M, located at the opposite end thereof from the pipes L, a shown clearly in the drawings.

The steam chamber,E, is inclined slightly toward the end to which the steam-pipes, L L, are connected, and the upper chamber is similarly inclined in the opposite direction, or toward the end to which the pipes, L, are connected, whereby the condensed steam may flow back into the boiler instead of remaining in the chambers. 1

It will be seen that the fruit is arranged,by

my improved construction, both above and per chamber, this not being shown in the drawings, as any preferred form may be adopted.

The upper and lower edges of the timbers and connecting bars are beveled, as shown clearly in Figs. 2 and 3, and the edges of the metal plates are provided with flanges to fit said beveled portions, to form water and steam tight joints. Trays may also be used upon the upper sides of the chambers, if preferred.

A water gage is arranged in the side of the boiler, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. This entire structure may be ,inclosed, if deily constructed by an unskilled person, and

in order to complete the steam chamber it is only necessary to attach metallic plates to the top and bottom of such frames. Therefore, the invention not only contemplates a fruit drier which can be easily constructed by any one, but at the same timecontemplates economy of material, which necessarily reduces the cost of such apparatus, while at the same time securing the same efficient results as expensive apparatus of the same character.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States, isr In a fruit drier, the combination of an upright frame provided with horizontal outer and inner end braces F and I, the latter of which are grooved at their inner edges, a series of connected steam chambers supported on the braces F and I, and the bottom trays adapted to be removably supported at the bottom of each steam chamber in the grooved edges of the inner braces I, substantially as set forth. I

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aifixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

A. M. oHAPrELL.

Witnesses:

G. T. BOURNE, J EFF. O. CARIOO. 

